Player-coach Rob Wilson took full responsibility for the defeat as the Vipers threw away a 6-4 lead with just over seven minutes left on the clock.

After Judd Medak had the cut the deficit to one goal, Wilson presented the Flyers import with the puck and he swiftly set up Kent Davyduke for the 57th minute equaliser.

Six minutes into overtime the vipers lost for the second time over the weekend when Davyduke skated around defenceman Chris McAllister and into the danger zone before shooting home the game winning score which was also his hat-trick marker.

Wilson held his hand up after the game after describing the result as "very disappointing".

Speaking about the Flyers late comeback he said: "If the blame lies with anyone it is me for that (sixth) goal."

Wilson also revealed that winger Rob Trumbley had been suspended by the club but declined to elaborate any further than: "It is a team-related issue that's all. I will meet with him tomorrow."

Trumbley wasn't on the team coach when it headed south for Basingstoke on Saturday and he was absent from the Metro Radio Arena last night.

The Vipers could have done with him as they only dressed 11 skaters and after their exertions the players were running on empty in the latter stages of the game and in overtime.

In what was Daryl Illingworth's last game as Vipers owner, two powerplay goals scored by Todd Dutaiume and Greg Kuznik negated Shaun Johnson's second minute strike for the Vipers.

Davyduke put the Flyers further ahead in the opening exchanges of the middle period before Karl Culley and two Hilton Ruggles goals gave the Vipers a 4-3 advantage at the second break.

With the yellow-shirted defenceman backing off, Kyle Horne hit the equaliser but the Vipers looked to have secured the league points with two goals in under four minutes.

David Longstaff hit a short-range goal to capitalise on the Vipers' third powerplay of the game and to great acclaim from the vast majority of a 1,350 strong crowd, Ruggles fired low for his hat-trick score on 52 minutes.

The Vipers had a late powerplay chance to apply the coup des gras but fatigue had set in and the Flyers' penalty-killing units had little trouble to deal with.